28 – It’s Not Blight

Ren couldn’t help it, he laughed. The sight of Jax, towering over the woman, shrinking back as she swung her makeshift washing weapon at him was simply too much to bear.

“Can’t. You. Read. The. Sign!” Each word was punctuated by a swing of the board.

“I… Stop. OW!” Even as he stutter-stepped back one of the blows landed on his shoulder.

Beside Ren, Kaylin was doubled over, trembling in silent amusement.

“Tobias, get my knife! And the water while you’re at it.” Beatrice was breathing heavily from the sudden exertion.

“Bee! Honey Bee! Theys aren’t the taxxen folk. Hold your skirts, woman!”

Kaylin straightened, wiped a tear from one eye and strode forward. “Excuse me, forgive our intrusion and my cousin here. We are refined members of the guild, and we have come to investigate your contract. This is the Scopper farm, correct?”

Tobias stood to his full, unimpressive height. “Is and ‘as been fors as long as the lands been growin’. And yes, yes, the contract, Is didn’t think theys be sending anyone, it’s been over two fan.”

While she had not advanced further, Beatrice still gripped the washboard tightly, her eyes thin slits of suspicion. “Wees don’t need the city-folk, Tob. It’s just disease.”

“Woman! Mys family has been on this land fors over seven generations. Wees been through drought, disease, famine, the brood-rutting cataclysm not fifty langs away. Still wees stayed. And worked! And persevered! Is telling’ you. IT’s. NOT. BLIGHT!”

Ren smiled, stepping up next to Kaylin. “You all have an incredible farm out here. We can tell you know the land better than anybody.”

“Mudding right Is do.” Now Tobias was breathing hard.

“Since we’re already here, mind if we take a look around. Or, better yet, can you show us?”

“Hmmph.” Beatrice huffed.

“Of course, before all that,” Ren continued, “my companion and I, would love to bring you as much water as you need.” He motioned to Jax as a chicken wandered over to investigate the activity, pecking at the old farmer’s worn shoe. “Tell us where the well is and where it needs to go.”

Tobias perked up, seeing an opportunity. “Whys, its right over here, iffen its no trouble fors you?”

Catching on, Kaylin added, “Of course it’s no trouble, I think it might even be part of the contract.”

“What?” Jax said. “I don’t remember that being part of…” He trailed off as Kaylin glared at him. “I mean… yes, of course. The well.”

Ren and Jax spent the next half-hour lugging wooden buckets of water between a well and a wide, half-barrel wash basin towards the back of the house. All under the careful guidance of Tobias while Kaylin continued to sooth the suspicions of Beatrice. Once they were done and the tub was filled, the farmer woman grunted them away and they followed her husband back to the front of the house.

“It’s not a blight. Is telling yous.”

“You would know better than us,” Ren said, wiping a sheen of sweat off his brow. “Still, would be able to show us the area?”

Tobias glanced up at the sun, covering his eyes with his hand. “Jed, Craw, and Ems shoulds be back for the midday meal in a bit. Theys can take yous out to the field after. Yous can just wait ‘ere.”

Tobias wandered off back to the outbuilding he was in when they first arrived, several chickens clucking behind him as he walked.

Ren turned to the others. “They seem nice.”

“I didn’t know old women could hit that hard.” Jax rubbed his shoulder. “Or that washboards were so sturdy.”

Kaylin patted his arm. “I’m sure, in time, you’ll recover, cousin. They remind me of Ellis and Jorna.”

“They do! I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Ellis and Jorna?” Ren asked.

“A shared aunt and uncle of ours,” Kaylin said. “Those two could bicker about the taste of water.”

“Ha! I remember one time…”

They filled the remainder of the wait with Jax and Kaylin going back and forth sharing stories of their long-married relatives until, at long last, they heard a new voice.

“Ho Da’. Ho Ma.” A man called out as three people—two men and a woman—appeared from the side of the house, all dressed in simple rough-spun clothes.

Tobias reappeared, chickens in tow. “Ah! There yous are. We ‘ave city folk ‘ere to investigate the issues in the fields.” He pointed over to where they sat near the house.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“You mean the blight, Da’?” the woman asked.

“I mean the issues wees been ‘aving in the fields Emelia! It’s not blight!”

Apparently the people—they have to be the Scopper children— knew better than to disagree, simply nodding rather than saying anything further.

The first speaker, a tall, broad-shouldered man with sandy blonde hair tied back in a loose ponytail, strode up to them, calloused hand extended. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” His voice lacked much of the thick accent of his parents. “My name’s Jed, this is my brother Crawley, and my sister Emelia.”

The other two waved from behind him.

Jed dropped his voice. “Don’t mind me da’. He’s been on the land a long time, and doesn’t leave much, anymore. We can eat a quick meal and then I’d be happy to show you the field.”

“Jed, Emmy, Craw. Is that yous?” Beatrice’s voice carried across the yard.

“Here, Ma’!” Emelia called back.

“Yous just in time, Emmy, come on and ‘ang the washings with mees.”

The younger woman shook her head as her brothers chuckled. “Coming, Ma’. Save me a bite, Jed.”